Trip to the South-Atlanta

Mom and I took a trip a couple of weeks ago. We started out in Atlanta, went to Charlotte, SC, over to Wilmington, NC (where my brother, sister-in-law, nephew, and soon-to-be little one live), and then back south to Charleston, SC, and back to Atlanta. This trip was to see family, new things, and get a bit of the taste of the south. I learned many things, some of them being that the southerners are more friendly than people in my hometown, they really do say "Yes, Ma'am" all of the time, say "ya'll" often and with a straight face, and some really do live in trailers. It is also VERY green and there are lots of trees. I sense there is still some Confederate pride too. It was fun and I learned a lot! In the above picture is my Mom and I outside of the CNN building. We just finished our Studio Tour, which was so cool! I got to see the newsroom and some of the anchors as they were broadcasting. We also learned how that CNN station works, see Headline News, etc. So fun.
Atlanta was really clean and a great tourist town. We took a break in Centennial Park. Notice the Olympic Rings in the stone. Here are children just playing in the water fountains. We were surely the minority!
Mom and I also took a tour of the Coca Cola Museum. Coca Cola began in Atlanta so there is so much to learn there. It is worth the time and money.
This photo is actually out of order. In Charlotte, NC we stayed with our second cousins. Not all were pictured here but it was such a nice visit.
At the end of our tour and before the massive gift store, there were different kind of Coca Cola products available (as much as you wanted) from all the different regions of the world. My favorite was called Smart........a green apple soda. I would definitely be willing to go to Atlanta again just to see the other things there is to offer.

My Dad had a Faux-Hawk!

My dad is NOT the type to do, say or think radical things. But now that he is 50, he seems to have loosened a bit. He let me give him a Faux-hawk...
What a dude!
Silly face...

Sad Day

(Photo before the Tragedy) Sorry, there is no photo after the tragedy. It is too graphic:(


This morning I have been working on a pretty cool cake for my father's secretary. Today marks her 20th year at this office. I made so much effort into the display, the special poster for her, etc. Well as we were putting the things in the car getting ready to go to his office, I set the cake on the hood of my car. We went inside to gather my purse, the poster, serving spoon and knife. As soon as I walked back into the garage, I saw the cake and platter in slow motion fall off the car top down and shatter on the garage floor!!!!!!

I feel soooo guilty about the cake platter. It is gorgeous. My father bought it for my mom during their 20th wedding anniversary while in Dusseldorf, Germany. Boy, I should have been more careful and put in on a flat surface. I definitely know better!!!!!

Now all of us at one time or another have broken a glass plate, cup, etc.....tell me about your story!!!

Cousins Came to Visit

Peter, Ruth Ann, Marta, Tess, Levi, Eliza, Aunt Denise, Luke, Grandma, and Grandpa
Peter, Ruth Ann, Marta, Tess, Eliza, Levi, Me, Luke, Grandma, and Grandpa

Our cousins came from California for a couple of days. They are my mother's sister (Denise and Mark's kids). We had fun boating, fishing, swimming, sidewalk-chalking, playing bingo for prizes, watching X-Men, and just hanging around. We got this picture in right before they left this morning. Sniff, sniff, tear, tear....

Lately In Oshkosh

Peter and I made a "dirt dessert." We had fun putting the worms in all the layers and he most of all loved designing the "terrain." He loves Star Wars as you can see.
Notice where the decapitated man's head is! What a battle! You may have to censor this blog.
The following are pictures from our backyard. Pictures don't often show the full colors and beauty, but at least you get an idea. My mom does a lot of this. I looooove our backyard!

Oak's Chocolates

My brother, Peter, my sister, Ruth Ann, and I visited Oak's Chocolates. This store was one that my little sister and I used to take the bus to when we were in elementary school. Mom would give us a dollar or so and we felt so grown up going to the old downtown Oshkosh area. Here is a picture of Peter and I. He had just bought "Bean Boozled" a special Jelly Belly candy. I loved being able to reminisce about old memories.